Analysis of Earthenware Pottery Sherds at Kota Kalawi, Lanao del Sur, Philippines

Andreo Luiz V. Agbayani1, Pauline Basilia1,2, and Leee Anthony M. Neri1

The 2024 excavation at Kota Kalawi in Lanao del Sur, Philippines, represents the first systematic archaeological investigation of a Maranao kota, an indigenous stone fortification. While the site is primarily interpreted as defensive, the recovery of 2,173 earthenware artifacts provides evidence for domestic activity within a military context. This study examines the Kota Kalawi earthenware assemblage through an integrated approach combining macroscopic analysis of morphological and technological attributes with ceramic petrography of selected samples to examine manufacturing practices. The composition and characteristics of the assemblage may provide insight into whether the fortification supported sustained domestic activities alongside its defensive role. This research seeks to determine whether the archaeological evidence aligns with oral traditions and ethnographic accounts of similar fortified sites in the Philippines, which functioned as integrated settlement spaces supporting both residential and military needs. Overall, this study aims to contribute to a broader understanding of the relationship between defence and daily life in Maranao fortified sites.